Ballarat boxer Alsop new Victorian champion

BALLARAT boxer Michael Alsop is now Victorian champion after defeating Travis Murtagh in an unanimous points decision at Reggio Calabria Club on Sunday.

The 17-year-old outclassed the previous title holder to score a comprehensive 16-14 win and win the Victorian intermediate bantamweight crown, the same title Lionel Rose won before turning professional.

The intermediate division is for fighters who have had between 6-10 fights.

Alsop put an eight count on Murtagh in the second round and hit his opponent with a barrage of combination punches.

The Ballarat fighter came close to stopping his opponent without completing a knockout, but was thrilled to claim the title.

“It is a really good feeling,” he said yesterday.

“At the end of the second round I knew I was probably going to win it.

“Whenever we were coming out of the clinch he had no power in his punches and I was exploding on him. I’ve had a lot more training so I’ve improved.

“I guess I’m a little surprised (to be champion so early in my career) but it was no surprise to ‘Feary’ (trainer Ian Fear) because he has had 14 champions now.”

The two fighters fought before in August, Alsop winning the bout with a TKO (technical knockout) after trailing 6-7 at the end of the first round.

This time Alsop won the first round 2-0, before dominating the remaining two rounds of the fight.

“I came out with a different plan,” Alsop said.

“‘Feary’ had me a lot better prepared and made sure I didn’t make the same mistakes as last time.”

Alsop is now aiming for a national title fight in Adelaide in January.